THE ATTACK
Joseph and his father were both on the tow-path when at last Netteke decided to move.As she set her ears forward and took the first step, Father De Smet heaved a sigh of relief.
"Now, why couldn't you have done that long ago, you addlepated old fool," he said mildly to Netteke."You have made no end of trouble for us, and gained nothing for yourself! Now I am afraid we shan't get beyond the German lines before dark.We may even have to spend the night in dangerous territory, and all because you're just as mulish as, as a mule," he finished helplessly.
Joseph laughed."Can't you think of anything mulisher than a mule?" he said.
"There isn't a thing," answered his father.
"Well," answered Joseph, "there are a whole lot of other things beside balky mules in this world that I wish had never been made.
There are spiders, and rats, and Germans.They are all pests.Idon't see why they were ever born."
Father De Smet became serious at once.
"Son," he said sternly, "don't ever let me hear you say such a thing again.There are spiders, and rats, and balky mules, and Germans, and it doesn't do a bit of good to waste words fussing because they are here.The thing to do is to deal with them!"Father De Smet was so much in earnest that he boomed these words out in quite a loud voice.Joseph seized his hand.
"Hush!" he whispered.
Father De Smet looked up.There, standing right in front of them in the tow-path, was a German soldier!
"Halt!" shouted the soldier.
But Netteke was now just as much bent upon going as she had been before upon standing still.She paid no attention whatever to the command, but walked stolidly along the tow-path directly toward the soldier.
"Halt!" cried the soldier again.
But Netteke had had no military training, and she simply kept on.
In one more step she would have come down upon the soldier's toes, if he had not moved aside just in time.He was very angry.
"Why didn't you stop your miserable old mule when I told you to?"he said to Father De Smet.
"It's a balky mule," replied Father De Smet mildly, "and very obstinate.""Indeed!" sneered the soldier; "then, I suppose you have named him Albert after your pig-headed King!""No," answered Father De Smet, "I think too much of my King to name my mule after him.""Oh, ho!" said the German; "then perhaps you have named him for the Kaiser!"Netteke had marched steadily along during this conversation, and they were now past the soldier.
"No," Father De Smet called back, "I didn't name her after the Kaiser.I think too much of my mule!"The soldier shook his fist after them."I'll make you pay well for your impudence!" he shouted."You and I will meet again!""Very likely," muttered Father De Smet under his breath.He was now more than ever anxious to get beyond the German lines before dark, but as the afternoon passed it became certain that they would not be able to do it.The shadows grew longer and longer as Netteke plodded slowly along, and at last Mother De Smet called to her husband over the boatside.
"I think we shall have to stop soon and feed the mule or she will be too tired to get us across the line at all.I believe we should save time by stopping for supper.Besides, I want to send over there," she pointed to a farmhouse not a great distance from the river, "and get some milk and eggs.""Very well," said her husband; "we'll stop under that bunch of willows."The bunch of willows beside the river which he pointed out proved to be a pleasant, sheltered spot, with grassy banks sloping down to the water.A turn in the river enabled them to draw the "Old Woman" up into their shadows, and because the trees were green and the boat was green, the reflections in the water were also green, and for this reason the boat seemed very well hidden from view.
"I don't believe we shall be noticed here," said Father De Smet.
"It's hot on the boat.It would be nice to take the babies ashore while we eat," said Mother De Smet, running out the gangplank."Ibelieve we'll have supper on the grass.You hurry along and get the milk and eggs, and I'll cook some onions while you are gone."Jan and Marie ran over the plank at once, and Mother De Smet soon followed with the babies.Then, while Marie watched them, she and Jan brought out the onions and a pan, and soon the air was heavy with the smell of frying onions.Joseph and Jan slipped the bridle over Netteke's collar and allowed her to eat the rich green grass at the river's edge.When Father De Smet returned, supper was nearly ready.He sniffed appreciatively as he appeared under the trees.
"Smells good," he said as he held out the milk and eggs toward his wife.
"Sie haben recht!" (You are right!), said a loud voice right behind him!
Father De Smet was so startled that he dropped the eggs.He whirled about, and there stood the German soldier who had told Netteke to halt.With him were six other men.
"Ha! I told you we should meet again!" shouted the soldier to Father De Smet."And it was certainly thoughtful of you to provide for our entertainment.Comrades, fall to!"The onions were still cooking over a little blaze of twigs aid dry leaves, but Mother De Smet was no longer tending them.The instant she heard the gruff voice she had dropped her spoon, and, seizing a baby under each arm, had fled up the gangplank on to the boat.Marie followed at top speed.Father De Smet faced the intruders.
"What do you want here?" he said.